Roofing



July 9, 1935. H. L. GUY

ROOFING Filed Dec. 17, 1951 Patented July 9, 1935 ROOFING Harry L. Guy, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Ford.

Roofing Products Company,

poration of Illinois Chicago, 111., a cor- Application December 17, 1931, Serial No. 581,565 6 Claims. (01. 108-33) This invention relates to roof coverings and among other objects aims to provide roofing capable of covering larger areas of roof surface without impairing the protection against leakage.

The nature of the invention may be readily understood by reference to illustrative embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawing.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 isa perspective view of a roof covering presenting hexagonal shingle outlines;

Fig. 2 is a roof covering formed from square individual shingles arranged in so-called diamond pattern;

Fig. 3 is a roof covering in which the shingles present the conventional square-butt outline;

Fig. 4 is a roof covering formed by overlapped courses of rectangular shingles arranged in a so-called Dutch lap relationship; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken on the plane 55 of Fig. 1 showing the manner of fastening down the free ends of the overlying shingle tabs. To simplify illustration the ends of the fastener are shown separating the lower layers of material, whereas in practice the fastener becomes embedded in the soft material of the roofing units.

The invention is here shown embodied in roofing material made from flexible asphalt-coated roofing sheets which are usually surfaced with some colored mineral surfacing, such as a crushed slate. Such roofing material is cut into individual shingles or into so-called shingle strips having a plurality ,of shingle tabs which, when laid in overlapped courses, simulate individual shingle outlines. It is desirable from the standpo'int of appearance as well as of economy, to have the exposed areas of the shingles or shingle tabs as large as possible. Amongother reasons this is because the more expensive rigid roofing units, such as slate etc., can be and are laid with large areas exposed (relative to the unexposed area), thereby producing a more attractive appearance.

It has not been possible heretofore to simulate this large-shingle effect or to utilize the possible economies inherent therein, without providing some locking or a fastening means to hold down the free edges of the shingles or shingle tabs to prevent their being blown up by wind to admit rain and cause leakage. Locking means whether in the form of a so-called lock shingle or other- -wise not only affects the appearance or shape of the shingle or distorts the outline into some unattractive, unconventional shape which betrays the locked, flexible shingle, but results in buckling the roofing or producing bulges or wrinkles which prevent the roofing from lying flat. This effect is magnified in the heavier grades of roofing ma;- terial and has therefore practically eliminated its use from this type of shingle notwithstanding its obvious advantages.

Whatever form of lock shingle or locking means is employed, the desired effect is completely lost and no satisfactory large-shingle roof surface has been possibleeither in simulation of the effects produced by the more expensive rigid shingle or otherwise.

According to the present invention flexible shingles or strips having conventional largeshingle outlines may be fastened down by means which leave the roofing intact as. regards leakage, which involve no alteration of the shingle outline, and which cause the shingles to lie flat without buckles or wrinkles. The invention has been illustrated in the drawing in connection with a number of conventional shingle outlines. In Fig. 1 the roof surface is produced by so-called hexagon strips Ill (each having a plurality of spaced projecting semi-hexagonal tabs ll) laid in overlapping courses with the ends l2 of the shingle tabs of one course registering with the bases 13 of the recesses between the shingle tabs of the next underlying course. a hexagonal shingle outline which of course may be considerably varied not only as to size but as to proportions of the sides of the shingle outline. As herein shown thedepth of each shingle strip I0 is made great enough so that the upper edge'l4 of a given course underlaps by the dis-' tance I5 (which is usually about'2 or 2%) the bases I3 of the second overlying course of strips. Thus at the ends I2 of each of the tabs II and for a distance l5 above the same,,three thicknesses I 6, I] and I8 of roofing material occur (see Fig. 5). The strips are here'shown nailed as at l9 by nails or the equivalent which underlie the tabs II but pass through the subjacent layers I1 and I8 of the roofing.- The heads of the nails or other appropriate fastening means are therefore concealed and protected. The free ends l2 of the shingle tabs are fastened down in the region'of the nails by fasteners 20, here shown in the form of metal clips similar to the wire or flat Hotchkiss fasteners, which penetrate the upper two thicknesses Hi and ll of the roofing but are independent of and do not penetrate the underlying thickness I8. Thus the free edges of theshingle tabs are fastened down in a manner which permits them to lie perfectly fiat and without penetrating the bottom layer of roofing material, thus leaving the latter imperforate to pro-- tect against leakage at this point. Moreover the fastener is independent of the lower layer of roofing material and the attaching nails and their location. It is possible therefore to locate the The result produced is attaching nails without regard to the fasteners.

shingle but must be located where it can strike a'roof board.

Preferably the fastener is made of some rustproof material such as copper wire or copper strip or rust-proof plated soft steel wire or strip. Preferably the plating is of such a character that the exposed portion of the fastener will harmonize with the roofing and be inconspicuous. In any case the exposed portion of the fastener is so small as not to be noticeable at a distance. The form of the fastener may, obviously, vary greatly. Preferably it should be inconspicuous and should firmly fasten the overlying free portion of the tab or shingle to an attached or anchored subjacent layer of material.

At the abutting vertical joints between adjacent strips or shingles, the fastener 20 is preferably placed, as shown in Fig. 1, to straddle the joint.

The fasteners may advantageously be applied by typical fastener applying devices commonly found on the market. Such a device is indicated diagrammatically at 2! and comprises a fastener magazine which holds a supply of fasteners and a a plate 22 hinged at to the rear edge of the device and having its extremity 24 arranged opposite the point of application of the fastener to serve as a die in bending the ends'of the fastener after they have penetrated the roofing. The plate 22 is preferably made narrow so that it may readily .pass into the narrow space between adjacent square-butt shingles and should preferably be thin to avoid distorting the shingles upon application. of the fasteners. The extremity 24 of the platemay if necessary be somewhat wider than the shank of the plate so as to be engaged by and bend over the extremities of the fastener. The device 2| may advantageously be one. type which is'spring-operated and is actuated merely by depressing the trigger or handle 25. In order to fasten the shingle tabs as aforesaid it is necessary merely-to insert the end 24 of the plate underneath the overlying thicknesses of material but above the bottom thickness and depress the trigger. .ndesired the body of the device may be equipped with an adjustable gauge 2'6to engage the edge of the roofing material to locate the fastener a predetermined distance above the edge of the material. This distance is usually limited by the location of thefastening nails l9;

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the shingle tabs or shingles require no special design to adapt them for fastening by the aforesaid means,-and that when fastened they will lie perfectly fiat and will not be buckled or wrinkled in any way. Since the fastening of the free tabs is independent of the sequence of laying the shingles, existing roofs may be fastened down just aseasily and satisfactorily as newly laid roofs.-v

In other words the roof may be laid without-prearrangement as regards the application of the roofing material.

fasteners.

So long as the adequate amount of underlap i5 is provided the area 0 the shingle may be proportionately very largewithout resulting in the possibility of leakage, thereby effecting substantial economy in roofing material as well as se-r curing the desired large-shingle effect.

In Fig. 2-is illustrated a roof surface formed 'by individual square shingles 2'l laid in diamond pattern and-having thefree ends 23 fastened down by the fasteners 20. The shingles 21 are laid diagonally with their upper diagonal margins overlapped (a distance 29 adequate to protect against leakage) by the lower diagonal margins of ,the overlying course. The lateral comers of the shingles are each clipped as at 30 and abut instead of overlap, to avoid an excessive number of thicknesses of roofing at each corner. In the present arrangement at each corner occur three thicknesses of roofing material the lowermost of which is the upper corner 3| of a shingle 21, the intermediate layer beingthe overlying margins 32 of the next course above, and the top layer being the lower corner 33 of the next higher course of shingles. The fastening nails 34 lie under the lower corners 33 of a course of shingles and penetrate the two subjacent layers. The fasteners 20 penetrate the upper two thicknesses of material at the corner and overlie the bottom thickness comprising the upper corners 3i of the course of shingles. The fasteners 20 may be applied after each course of roofing has been laid, in the manner illustrated in connection with Fig. 1, that is, by inserting the extremity 24 of plate 22 underneath the upper two layers of material at the lower corner of the given shingle but above the bottom thickness. Thus the free lower ends 33 of each shingle are fastened to the next underlying layer of material comprising the margins 32 which in turn are held down by the closely adjacent fastening nails 34, but the lower layer is not penetrated by the fastener 20 and no opportunity for leakage is afforded.

In Fig. 3 is illustrated a roof covering formed of overlappingcourses of shingle strips 35 having' a plurality of spaced projecting square-butt tabs 35. The strips are laid with the butts of adjacent com'ses of tabs 36 in staggered relation. The depth of each strip is made such that the upper edge 31 of each course of strips underlies by a distance 38 the notches or slots 35 between adjacent tabs of the second overlying course. The distance of overlap is usually 2 or 2 in this type of shingle. It will be apparent that in this roof covering three thicknesses of roofing occur adjacent the bottom of each slot 39. Fastening nails 40 penetrate the lower two thicknesses of material and are concealed and protected bythe lower edges of the overlying exposed tabs 33. As

-here shown the fastening nails are preferably placed close to the bases of the slots or notches 33. The fasteners 20 pass through the upper and next lower thicknesses of the roofing but not the bottom thickness. Theymay be applied as illustrated in Fig. l by an automatic fastener applying device which drives the fastener through the top thicknesses-of roofing but not through the bottom thickness. The plate 22 is sufilciently narrow so that the extremity 24 may be passed through a narrow slot 39 and swungunderneath the roofing material at the base of the slot where the fastener 23 .is to be located. It is obvious from the foregoing that the fasteners 2lmay b e applied to mold roof or a newly laid roof without any alteration in-the conventional design of the In Fig. 4 is shown a roof surfacing comprising rectangular shingles arranged in "Dutch-lap pattern. Such a pattern is formed by overlapping the upper thicknesses of roofing, that is, the overlapping side margins 42 but not the bottom thickness and are preferably located'closely adjacent the fastening nails 45. Thus the free overlying corners of each shingle is fastened to the underlying shingle and that in turn is firmly held down by the closely adjacent fastening nail 45.

It is apparent that the shingles may be made of substantial size without increasing the conventional overlap and still be securely held in flat relationship against leakage. No alteration in the conventional design or manner of laying the shingles is required.

Obviously the invention is not limited to details of the illustrative embodiments thereof herein shown and described. These may be variously modified. Moreover it is not indispensable that all of the features be used conjointly, since various features may be employed to advantage in different combinations or subcombinations.

What is claimed is,

1. Roofing of the character described comprising in combination a plurality of overlapping courses of flexible shingle units made of pierceable material and presenting a series of overlapping courses of exposed shingles arranged in spaced relation, said units being of a depth to underlie portions of the second course above thereby providing areas of triple thickness, fastening means passing through the underlying units but not the top unit to attach the same to the roof, said fastening means being covered by a portion of the top unit, and double pronged metal staples located adjacent the lower edge of the uppermost course and closely adjacent said fastening means, the prongs of said staples piercing from above the upper two thicknesses of roofing but not the lower thickness and being upset above ,the latter, whereby said lower edge of said uppermost course is fastened down without penetration to the roof supporting structure by staples which may be applied after the lower units have been fastened by said fastening means and overlapped by the top course, the section of the wire being suflicient to resist buckling of the staple legs when driven through mineral surfaced roofing.

2. Roofing of the character described comprising in combination a plurality of overlapping courses of flexible shingle units made of pierceable material and presenting a'series of overlapping courses of exposed shingles arranged in spaced relation, said units being of a depth to overlie portions of the second course above thereby providing areas of triple thickness, nails or the like passing through the underlying units but not the top unit to attach said underlying units to the roof, said nails being covered by a portion of the top unit, and prong attaching devices located adjacent the lower edge of the uppermost course and closely adjacent said nails, the prongs of said attaching devices piercing from above the two upper thicknesses of roofing but not the lower thickness and being upset above the layer thereby fastening the uppermost course directly to the next underlying course without penetration to the roof supporting structure, said fastening devices being applicable to the roofing after the lower units have been fastened by said nails or the like and overlapped by the top course, the section of the prongs of said fastening devices being sufiicient to resist buckling thereof when driven through mineral surfaced roofing.

3. In a roofing assembly of the class described,

the combination of a supporting substructure, impregnated felt roofing units overlapping to give three-ply thickness in limited areas and lying flat upon each other in conforming relationship, means securing the lowest of the said units directly to the substructure, and a staple driven through the uppermost unit and the immediate underlying intermediate unit in an area where the thickness is three-ply and near a corner of the uppermost unit, and below the lowest point at which the intermediate unit is secured to the substructure, said -staple being clinched above and not passing through the bottom ply.

4. In a structural assembly of the class described the combination of at least three overlapping units of prepared roofing material having exposed tab portionslying fiat upon each other in conforming relationship, a supporting substructure therefor, means securing the lowest of the said units directly to the substructure, and a fastening member having an element thereof driven through the exposed tab portion of the uppermost unit, at a position adjacent to a corner thereof, and through the immediately underlying unit and securing the said uppermost and underlying units together, without penetrating the said lowest unit. 5. Roofing of the. character described comprising in combination a plurality of overlapping courses of flexible shingle units made of pierceable material and presenting a series of overlapping courses of exposed shingles arranged in spaced relation, said units being of a depth to underlie portions of the second course above thereby providing areas of triple thickness, fastening'means passing through the underlying units but not the top unit to attach the same to the roof, said fastening means being covered by a portion of the top unit, and double pronged metal staples located closely adjacent said fastening means, the prongs of said staples piercing from above the upper two thicknesses of roofing but not the lower thickness and being upset above the latter, whereby said lower edge of said uppermost course is fastened down without penetration to the roof supporting structure by staples which may be applied after the lower units have been fastened by said fastening means and overlapped by the top course.

6. Roofing of the character described comprising in combination a plurality of overlapping courses of flexible shingle units made of pierceable material and presenting a series of over- 'lapping courses of exposed shingles arranged in spaced relation, said units being of a depth to overlie portions of the second course above thereby providing areas of triple thickness, fastening means passing through the underlying units but not the top unit to attach said underlying units to the roof, said fastening means being covered by a portion of the top unit, and pronged attaching devices located closely adjacent said fastening means, the prongs of said attaching devices piercing from above the two upper thicknesses of roofing but not the lower thickness and being upset above the layer thereby fastening the uppermost course directly to the next underlying course without penetration to the roof I supporting structure, said fastening devices be- 

